Home Elevator Series a first for city

Two-storey homes are dominating the market, but are not popular with all buyers. Home owners who want to age in place or those with mobility issues may have concerns about frequently negotiating flights of stairs. North Prairie Developments offers an innovative solution: the 'vertical' bungalow.

Jeannie Armstrong, Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Updated: November 23, 2015

North Prairie Developments has introduced an innovative 'vertical' bungalow design to Saskatoon, featuring a home elevator. The Westin 2.0 show home offers 1,662 square feet of living space on two floors, easily accessed by a residential elevator. The show home is priced at only $449,900. Gord Waldner / The StarPhoenix

Two-storey single-family homes continue to dominate Saskatoon’s new neighbourhoods, due to the shift toward more affordable narrow residential lots. Two-storey homes, however, are not popular with all buyers. Buyers who want to age in place or those with mobility issues may have concerns about frequently negotiating flights of stairs. North Prairie Developments offers an innovative solution: the Westin 2.0 Home Elevator Series.

The Westin 2.0 could be described as a “vertical bungalow” ─ a 1,662 square foot two-storey home that includes a state-of-the-art Summit residential elevator. Who but the rich and famous can afford a home elevator? With a starting price of $479,900, North Prairie’s Elevator Series homes are both affordable and attainable.

North Prairie’s Westin 2.0 model home is equipped with a Summit residential elevator for convenience and mobility.

“Our idea is to offer the home owner the same square footage and attractive design they’re used to having in a traditional bungalow, with the added convenience and accessibility of a residential elevator,” says Krista Nakonechny, marketing and events coordinator with North Prairie Developments Ltd.

“It’s a design concept that really appeals to baby boomers and allows them to plan for the future, without having to downsize and lose square footage.”

Not quite ready for an elevator in your life? “A buyer can purchase the Westin 2.0 without an elevator and then add it in at a later date,” says Nakonechny.

The Westin 2.0 elevator show home is on display at 1231 Pringle Way in Stonebridge. The Craftsman-style two-storey is an attractive addition to the neighbourhood with its inviting front verandah, stone trim and vinyl shakes.

The main floor open concept great room is an attention-grabber. The living room is defined by a soaring 18-foot high ceiling. Triple-stacked windows flood the home with natural light.

North Prairie chose this season’s trendy ‘greige’ neutral for its new Westin 2.0 show home in Stonebridge. The smart kitchen features two-tone cream and grey Fusion cabinetry, a high gloss laminate countertop and vintage style solid sawn white oak hardwood flooring.

The kitchen is dressed in elegant two-tone grey and cream Fusion cabinetry, complemented by high gloss laminate countertops. The super-long island features a stylish built-in wine rack. The hardwood floor is a stunning wide-plank sawn white oak with a vintage feel.

Two large bedrooms, two bathrooms and a bonus room await upstairs. The master suite is laden with luxury touches, including a spa-style ensuite and a huge walk-in closet. “Both have barn-style sliding doors, ideal for accessibility,” says Nakonechny.

Al three levels of the home can be accessed by stairs or elevator, she adds. “The elevator is also visually attractive, with a stylish glass door and a wallpapered interior.”

North Prairie will build the Westin 2.0 home on available lots in Stonebridge, Kensington, Rosewood and Martensville. “We’re currently constructing a Westin 2.0 home with an elevator and three-car garage at Sunset Ridge in Martensville,” says Nakonechny.

The Westin 2.0 show home and sales centre at 1231 Pringle Way in Stonebridge is open for viewing Monday through Thursday from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., weekends and holidays from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. To view by appointment, contact sales agent Jesse Renneberg at (306) 260-6211. For details, visit www.northprairiehomes.com.

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